Socialscope Update Being Pushed Out to Some Users, Brings New Features.

POSTED BY: GuruJustin | Follow Me

May 1, 2024

Oh Socialscope, what a love-hate relationship we BlackBerry users have with you.

Socialscope has been in private beta for what seems like forever. The problem is once you manage to actually get in to the beta, you may or may not actually receive updates to the application before you move into a nursing home. How the team at Socialscope decides which users do and do not receive updates is unclear, but it appears that the majority of people don’t receive the updates right away.

For whatever reason, I have been one of the fortunate few to receive updates in what appears to be (based on other Twitter users’ feedback) the earliest timeframe possible.

Thursday night I was prompted to update the Socialscope application from 0.9.5.88 to 0.9.5.98. I assumed that the update would just be some much-needed bug fixes as the last couple updates have been, but luckily, there were some significant new features introduced.

As you may know Socialscope isn’t just a great Twitter client for BlackBerry, but it also does an excellent job integrating Facebook, Flickr, and even Foursquare. In this update Facebook implementation got a huge update bringing in-app profile viewing and full photo album viewing. Also, more items are being pulled into the Facebook feed, instead of just statuses and wall posts, some 3rd-party application information is included. This isn’t necessarily a good thing however, unless of course you want to know who your friend’s “lover of the day” is. Still, the ability to easily view people’s profiles without being redirected to Facebook’s mobile site is a welcome addition, and photo album viewing rivals that of the native Facebook for BlackBerry application (which I don’t use thanks to Socialscope).

The new version also brings a slightly refreshed “tweet view” with refreshed fonts and a cleaned up layout. The functionality is the same but it looks better and displays information more clearly. New-style retweets are also finally supported in this build, allowing users to properly view and send retweets via “retweet” and “comment” options. Under the hood, this new version runs much faster and loads avatars, tweets, and any photos included quicker and more reliably. Many times in previous versions photos wouldn’t load until I individually selected tweets, even then they would appear slower than they should. Geotagging has also become much more reliable, finding my location more quickly and more accurately, making Foursquare much more useable.

All in all this was an unexpectedly feature-filled update. While it’s hard to predict Socialscope’s direction with the application (seeing how it’s been in beta for so long) it’s nice to see they are still bringing new feature to at least some users.

If you aren’t a Socialscope user yet go ahead and try your hand at getting an invite into the beta, and if you already use the application, let us know if you’ve seen an update lately and what version you’re running.

4sq, Facebook, foursquare, Social media, Social networking, SocialScope, Twitter

Jeff

I am extremely frustrated by socialscope's approach to releasing their application. There seems to be no rhyme nor reason to who gets what version of the beta. I know that sounds like sour grapes (I'm on .44 for the record), but that's not the frustrating part. It's the fact that there's no reason not to release now and then update the app. Unless they're planning to release a $20 app (which would be suicide), why not release it now and offer free updates to the 1.x version. Then they can charge a smaller upgrade fee for major versions. As it stands now, the features listed in .92 above could have easily qualified for a v2.x upgrade. Instead, they seem to be waiting until the app is “perfect” before pulling the trigger. As a result, based on the comments I've read on Twitter and other forums, they're alienating and frustrating the very people who could be their greatest voice.

On a positive note, it speaks to the quality of the application that I still use it. I don't believe there's much worse you can do to your customers than cut off communications (as they seem to have done…no word on their plans or timelines) and all things being equal, I would have dropped Socialscope months ago. I don't though, because there's nothing else out there (as far as I know) that can do what it does.

The question is - How long will that last?
http://davepeckens.com/ Dave Peckens

I have been graced by the SocialScope gods and received the same update you did. I've noticed many upgrades and/or features changes. Facebook Pages are available as well as the ability to update your Twitter profile. Twitpic or photo uploads are a little bit different by uploading and creating the URL after you click Post. I've also noticed the return of the auto-fill username and a new time “since update” feature.

I'm a huge fan of SocialScope and would gladly pay for this app. It's too bad everyone can bath in the wonder that is the best Twitter app for the BlackBerry.
Jeff

I am extremely frustrated by socialscope’s approach to releasing their application. There seems to be no rhyme nor reason to who gets what version of the beta. I know that sounds like sour grapes (I’m on .44 for the record), but that’s not the frustrating part. It’s the fact that there’s no reason not to release now and then update the app. Unless they’re planning to release a $20 app (which would be suicide), why not release it now and offer free updates to the 1.x version. Then they can charge a smaller upgrade fee for major versions. As it stands now, the features listed in .92 above could have easily qualified for a v2.x upgrade. Instead, they seem to be waiting until the app is “perfect” before pulling the trigger. As a result, based on the comments I’ve read on Twitter and other forums, they’re alienating and frustrating the very people who could be their greatest voice.

On a positive note, it speaks to the quality of the application that I still use it. I don’t believe there’s much worse you can do to your customers than cut off communications (as they seem to have done…no word on their plans or timelines) and all things being equal, I would have dropped Socialscope months ago. I don’t though, because there’s nothing else out there (as far as I know) that can do what it does.

The question is - How long will that last?
http://davepeckens.com/ Dave Peckens

I have been graced by the SocialScope gods and received the same update you did. I’ve noticed many upgrades and/or features changes. Facebook Pages are available as well as the ability to update your Twitter profile. Twitpic or photo uploads are a little bit different by uploading and creating the URL after you click Post. I’ve also noticed the return of the auto-fill username and a new time “since update” feature.

I’m a huge fan of SocialScope and would gladly pay for this app. It’s too bad everyone can bath in the wonder that is the best Twitter app for the BlackBerry.
abutterflyloves

I woke up this Sunday morning, and received my invite for Social Scope Lite. I felt like I won the lottery. I deleted UberTwitter, Seesmic, and my Facebook app. Social Scope is beautiful and perfect. I am glad they opened it up! YAY!
Anonymous

I woke up this Sunday morning, and received my invite for Social Scope Lite. I felt like I won the lottery. I deleted UberTwitter, Seesmic, and my Facebook app. Social Scope is beautiful and perfect. I am glad they opened it up! YAY!
abutterflyloves

I woke up this Sunday morning, and received my invite for Social Scope Lite. I felt like I won the lottery. I deleted UberTwitter, Seesmic, and my Facebook app. Social Scope is beautiful and perfect. I am glad they opened it up! YAY!

Socialscope Update Being Pushed Out to Some Users, Brings New Features.

POSTED BY: GuruJustin | Follow Me

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